Indoor Vaping Bans Lead To More Prenatal Smoking – US Study

An e-cig study by an economist from Georgia State University has found that by banning vaping in workplaces and public spaces can increase smoking rates among pregnant women by up to 30%.

Smoking whilst pregnant, called prenatal smoking, is known to pose huge health risks to mothers and their babies.

Michael Pesko, the study’s author and an assistant professor at the University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, said: “Pregnant women are highly motivated to quit smoking cigarettes and may believe e-cigarettes are a safe way to do so.”

“Indoor e-cigarette restrictions may reduce the attractiveness of vaping by requiring the user to make an additional time investment to use their devices, either outdoors or in non-regulated indoor areas.”

“This added inconvenience may reduce e-cigarette use and increase tobacco use for those who otherwise prefer to smoke cigarettes.”

“Governments should be cautious on the messaging they send, through regulations, on the relative risks of different smoking cessation products. Ideally, products should be regulated proportionate to their level of risk.”